Chicks begin to spread their little wings

UPDATE June 11, 9:37 a.m.: Good news! Spirit and Esperanza have also left the nest.

We have a little more animal news for you today, about San Jose’s baby peregrine falcons. (You can see more about the peregrine falcon chicks here.) We got this dispatch out of Mayor Chuck Reed’s office at San Jose City Hall :

Good afternoon,

Good news! Hiko, the male falcon chick, successfully flew for the first time this afternoon after getting pushed off the nest ledge by his two sisters. He soared around the City Hall Rotunda, accompanied by Clara, his mother. Hiko landed safely in a sycamore tree in front of the Chevron station at 4th and Santa Clara streets for a first flight of about two and a half blocks (as the falcon flies).

After a brief rest, he then took off again, flying back around the Rotunda. It was quite a sight!

There are rumors he made it as far as the SJSU garage. He’s since been spotted flying on the East side of City Hall with Jose, his father.

Volunteers and the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group staff are in process of locating his latest landing place. If it’s a safe spot, they expect him to remain there for the night.

The parents, Jose and Clara, will begin to bring Hiko food in the spots where he lands when they hear his cries. The next few weeks promise to be quite interesting as the young falcons practice their flying skills around City Hall.

The females, Spirit and Esperanza, may take a few more days to fledge. Our experts report that this was a good first flight for Hiko.